Jumping through the hoops: how hard is it to get your medication?

Hi everyone,

The thread posted from the moderator in Canada concerning her medication filling error by her pharmacy has intrigued me: both by the anxiety by the poster as well as the intense and reassuring responses by the readers. My curiosity is piqued by the mention of the "zero tolerance" policy in Canada mentioned and a response that in the USA there is a "triple copy" requirement for prescriptions of narcotics. I am beginning to think that I have been fairly lucky in my experiences obtaining my medications. I believe that society's views on narcotics for chronic pain greatly influences how we get and use our meds - and it frustrates me greatly, to the extent that I get quite "soap-boxy" about it. Since I became a chronic pain patient in 2000 I have run into some problems with a chain pharmacy (Walgreens) refusing to fill my 'scripts on some occasions, short-filling one on another, and "red-flagging" my name. I have since transferred my needs to another chain (Target) where a personal friend is the lead pharmacist. Since then, I have had superior service and absolutely no problems getting all of my scripts on-time and properly filled (Walgreens used to deliberately allow my scripts to out-date so they could refuse to fill them because they "expired"). For the last five years I have been on a stable dose ofmethadone and oxycocone with zofran and tizanidine as adjuncts for my pain.

I am very curious about your experiences obtaining your meds - the run-arounds, the rudeness, etc. I am wondering if someone can explain what the "zero tolerance" policy in Canada means to the chronic pain patient and what these "drug databases" that I heard about that some states use to "register" narcotic drug use and the "triple copy" requirement that someone wrote about. In my area (the midwest in USA) I have not run into any of this. The only requirement that my doc has to conform to is to see me every three months and write each script as a "new" one (not as a refill) and post-date the script as "do not fill until xxxx date" - so I get six prescriptions for each med at each visit (three for the oxycodone, three for the methadone). She also has to print them on "special" paper (a stiffer paper) rather than normal printer paper. Plus they cannot be phoned in or sent electronically (and I do not think I can get them using a mail-order pharmacy). Other than that, there are no other "hoops" that I know of.

My biggest problem has been with Walgreens. I personally think would rather not ever dispense narcotics if they didn't have to. They were very unprofessional in how they treated me the first three years that I needed the meds.

On a related matter, (maybe worth a separate thread?) I am also wondering if anyone is willing to share with me his / her opinion or advice about how much (or little) information you tell your friends, co-workers and family about your medications. For example, if medications problems come up in casual conversation with friends, etc I do not hide the fact that my meds are narcotics (my idea is that I don't want to perpetuate the idea that taking narcotics for chronic pain is something to hide). However I am also aware that some people are judgmental about these things, especially when they hear "methadone". But I truly believe that knowledge is the key to living life and for getting people to be more compassionate and understanding. I have found that I cycle in my thoughts: some times I try to hide my need for these drugs and other times I feel that I need to shout it from the roof-tops (not literally) - maybe a sign of frustration? venting? coping? I am not sure what it is all about......sometimes I am so grateful for the ability to have a way to live with my pain and at other times I tell myself that there is no way that I can live the next 40 years of my life taking 10 mg Methadone and 30mgs of oxycodone a day (or more if I develop tolerance or things get worse). I cannot help but think that this cannot be "right".

My way of dealing with things is perspective, philosophy and learning how others incorporate chronic pain into their lives.

I would love to know your thoughts!

Hi Disce Pati!

That's a very powerful post! One area I'll address is what and how much we tell our friends and family. I chose very carefully who I tell. It's pretty much on a 'need to know' basis otherwise I keep quiet. I've seen what happens to those who share and there's no way I want to open myself up to ridicule and shunning. Obviously my hubby knows exactly what I take. My grown kids know sort of what I need. Doctors and other health care team members and that's about it. I do let a couple of people at work, whom I trust, know that I take some strong pain meds sometimes but they don't need to know more than that.

If I have bad pain at work and need a strong dose of meds I always let one particular person know that I've taken something and that it may make me sleepy...just in case. I always report back to them when I'm leaving for the day and driving home. When I get home I email back in to let this one person know I made it home. It's out of respect for the people I work with.

This works for me,
Chutzie

Pati,

this is a great thread.  i would certainly vote to hear what these "professionals" have to say about their role in helping "Big Brother."

i am always reluctant to give out personal information for the reasons chutzie has stated.  i would rather a person or organization get to know me first, my strengths and weaknesses, and then, if and when appropriate to divulge some additional personal information. 

once i was an active member of an organization for several years.  after being elected President the third year, i subtley let them know i was jewish.  "my god," one of them said, "you don't look, act, or talk like a jew!"  i replied, "maybe your concepts of what a jew is needs changing."

the same is true of taking narcotics for pain.  my wife and i were with some friends at an auction once and one of them asked if anybody had an asperin.  my wife said, "no, but we have some morphine."  cracked everybody in our group up.  they now know that i take narcotics for my pain.  myh wife and i have known these people for about four years.  they still don't know that i'm jewish.  one trauma at a time, i always say.  lol

warren

I live in the States, the 1st pain doc I had would phone in my rx for hydrocodone and I saw him every 2 mths for a quick consult. This new one I've been going to since Sept is a diff story, I have to void in a cup every other mth, have to pick up my rx personally, even my hubby can't, and I had to sign a "contract' with the doc that I won't get narcotics from any other do ad must use the same pharm. He says it's the DEA cracking down, but I have friends who get narcotics from their PCP w/o jumping thru hoops, don't understand he diff. I'v never abused drugs and  have always used to same pharm for 15+ yrs. Maybe some docs are just more cautious or have had bad experiences with abusers, I don't know.

I take the Lortab 4x a day, and my family and friends know that I take meds, no biggie, they know the pain that I have.

Disce Pati,
The only thing I'd suggest is reading the rules before you post. There are some guidelines there. I know recently a post involving a copywrighted article was deleted by the administrator. You could e-mail one of the moderators to ask, also.